sapiens

Very true! However, I'm not forcing anything on my wife. She expressed a desire to go out with friends independent of me. I'm trying to figure out a way for her to realize her desire.

i think maybe you feel she is envious because you like hanging with your buds instead of with her- i doubt she is envious. i feel bad for her. i mean, shouldn't you grow up and stop hanging at bars or with your guy friends?

Rather harsh! I go out with friends independent of my wife maybe one night every 2-3 weeks. I don't think that is unreasonable. I don't think that reflects a need to "grow up". I enjoy hanging out with my wife very much. We have a lot of fun together. I also enjoy hanging out with friends from work every once in a while. It's a difficult situation. Most of the people I work with are single. Work related business often happens of weekends out as a group. All of my work related friends are graduate students. We often plan research collaborations over beers. I enjoy people from work and like to go out in order to maintain the social bonds necessary to maintain a comfortable work environment. I often miss my wife when I do go out with friends from work. (I'll call her throughout the night). However, I still value going out with friends from work.

you should make friends with other married couples and do things together, instead of apart.

Hanging out with other married couples is a good suggestion. Thank you. We do hang out with the limited number of married couples that we know. (We are both in graduate school. Most people we know are single).

youre leaving her out of your social life and if anything that is what she is envious of.

I disagree. I don't feel that hanging out with friends independent of her once every several weeks is "leaving her out of my social life." My social life is almost entirely my wife. I prefer it that way. I don't want to hang out with friends from work any more than I already do.

don't worry though, she won't put it with it for too many years, then you can have lots of time to hang at bars with the boys.

Very harsh!

Lurkette, thank you for your input. I don't think that she is happy the way it is. I think that she would benefit from some social interaction independent of me. Your suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

Cynthetiq, thank you for your input. She takes classes all the time, but when you are a graduate student, classes aren't very relaxing. Maybe an informal class at the community college would be good. Thanks.